Hi! I’ve been debating on how much of my story I wanted to share and even how I wanted to share it… I figured this would be a way to keep all of my family and friends informed vs trying to text it all. This will be longer post so bear with me…

It has been just over 2 weeks since we found out I have cancer. It’s still weird for me to say that: “I have cancer.” About a month ago we found a lump. And by we I mean my husband… I’m not even old enough to qualify for a mammogram yet! And before all your minds all go “there” I’ll tell you were were snuggled up in bed and he had his arm around me. His thumb could feel the lump and was pushing on it which was starting to bother me. So I asked him to stop. That’s when he asked me if I felt something there. I rolled to my back and sure enough there was something there that wasn’t on the other side. (I think I was told if you feel something on one side check the other side.. if it feels the same it’s probably nothing.. not sure if that’s a thing but that’s what I did.)

I made the appointment with my doctor. She did the initial exam and ordered a mammogram and ultrasound. During my mammogram and ultrasound appt the Doctor came in to talk to me. Cancer was not a concern at the time given my family history and age. But he said the only way to know for sure was from a biopsy. I’m so glad they offered. Because when this all started I knew that I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a don’t worry about it. I wanted the biopsy so I would have a for sure nope, it’s not cancer. So I drove back to the clinic the next day for my biopsy. Two days later the doctor called with my results.

“It’s cancer.”

“For real? Are you serious?” I thought he was joking.

“You sound as shocked as I am.”

I don’t remember everything else that was said. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had cancer. He did say that given my young age if I were his wife he would push for an MRI.

We got the news that I had cancer Labor Day weekend. We were on our way out the door, to celebrate my grandma’s 90th birthday. Talk about a long, hard weekend.

The following week was a busy one. I had appts every day! I met with the oncologist and found out what type of cancer I had. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Did you know there are 15 different types of breast cancer! And they are all treated differently. During our visit the results came in that I was + for the hormone type receptors. We took that as good news because if I was a triple negative that would have meant my cancer was more of an aggressive type and I would have to have chemo first before my surgery. After the oncologist appt we had another one with the surgeon. Thankfully the Oncologist recommended the MRI (I didn’t have to ask for it) and I had that the following day. Which was good because the MRI showed that the lump was bigger than they originally thought. And because of my young age it was recommended that we do genetic testing to see if anything shows up that way. Thankfully we were able to do that appt over the phone.

So now we’re in the waiting game. The doctors would like to wait until we get the results from my genetic testing before we go through with surgery. (Just in case the results of that would change what type of surgery we do.) And we still don’t know if I’ll need chemo. Once the lump is removed they will test the cancer to know the best way to deal with it.

I want to thank you all so much for your prayers. It is so humbling and heart warming to know that so many people care about me and my family 🤍 And continued prayers are much appreciated for wisdom for my doctors and for us! (We’ve been bombarded with so much information! To be able to discern our options and go with the one that is the best fit for us.)

A side note* We did the engagement project last year in adult Sunday School and all I can think is how fitting that was! This wasn’t in my script for myself and my family. But God has something more planned. We don’t always understand the why’s of life, but I do know that He is in control. His ways are higher than my ways and He has a plan for us in all of this. We are trusting in Him.